Group Alef Update - May 12

Another exciting day at JUDA.  The children continued learing about Shavuot by starting with a story book about the day that the Jews received the Torah.

We continued by decorating a Shavuot crown with the traditional Shavuot flowers and pictures of the dancing Torah.

After coloring our "What we do on Shavuot"  coloring book we made our dairy Pizzas in the shape of a Torah!! Fun and Yum!!

Group Alef Update - May 5

Shavuot is in the air...  We learned about the special gift that Hashem gave the Jewish people on Shavuot by playing pass the parcel until we discovered what the gift was... the Torah!! 

We then learned about the fight between the mountains and how each mountain wanted to be the one on which the Torah would be given... Although humble Mt. Sinai didn't think he stood a chance -because he was so small and simple -that was the precisely the mountain that Hashem chose.

The children then took a simple rock - like Mt. Sinai was - and decorated it with grass and flowers.... just like in the real story.  We hope that you'll display this paperweight in your homes.

Welcome to Ilana Ben David who is the new teacher for this group... The kids and Ilana seem to have "hit it off well" together. 

Group Alef Update - April 28

This week we went on a Bear Hunt... looking for a bear that was reported to be hiding in a cave. We found the cave but there was no bear inside... instead we found two Rabbis. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his son. What a surprise!!  We learned about how they hid in the cave to avoid being caught by the Romans.

After playing with bows and arrows, we made beautiful Bonfire cookies complete with colored Fondant and icing. Yum!!

Group Alef Update - April 21

The time between Pesach and Shavuot is usually a time during which we think about the ways we treat our friends.  The focus of this week's lesson was "Love your Friend as Yourself"

We looked at collection of paints in different colors.... and pointed out a combination of different colors makes for a beautiful painting.  In the same way, different kinds of boys and girls makes for a nice group.

We started with painting a really nice picture.... that would be shared with someone else.  The children pulled a name out a hat and gave that child their painting.

The children then made glasses that make everything look pink... Our lesson was that if we want to look at things in a happy and friendly way we can. It is up to us.

We then role played conflict resolution by looking at photos of children in conflict and discussing ways of reslove each problem.  

Group Alef and Bet Update - April 15

The outdoor patio of Chabad has been transformed into many things over the past few years, but this was the first time it became the Land of Israel.  A giant map of Israel was outlined over the whole area and the children visited different cities and learned about the different landscapes that Israel has… i.e. mountains, desserts, waterfalls,etc.  They reached Jerusalem and dug for old coins and put notes into the Kotel.  

Each group also contributed towards the Israeli Feast that we had at the end of JUDA… Delicious Falafel in Pita with Israeli Salad and Tehina… all made by your wonderful children.

Click here for photos of last week's class. 

Group Alef Update - March 10

The Pesach fun continues as we continued to work on our special Pesach projects which include a moving Pesach story and personalize Haggadah... sorry but we can't tell your more.

 The children enjoyed the continuation of the Pesach story with fun dramatization of particular parts of the story... The children learned first hand what it was like to be a slave - receiving water and bread (or perhaps only water) based on how hard you worked.  The children also experienced the excitement of finding all the Egyptian gold during the plague of darkness.

The children are doing very well with their learning of the Mah Nishtana and we are sure we'll have some lucky winners at the end of the contest. 

 

Group Alef Update - March 3

Here comes Pesach! So much to learn and we've gotten right to it.

In following our "Jewish home" theme we went up to the Avtzon Residence and found some closets that were locked.  What could be inside?  We discovered that inside the closets there are special dishes that are kept just for Pesach.  

What is Pesach? That needs a story.  We learned the first part of Pesach up until the end of the last of the 10 Plagues... and were left in suspense. What is going to happen next?

The children began working on a very special Haggadah for the Pesach Seder. Although we can't reveal the full contents of this special project, we can tell you that it involves photography and we think you're going to love it.

MAH NISHTANA Contest:
Please download the Mah Nishtana PDF mp3 file that was sent to you by email.  All kids in Group Alef that learn the first two lines, will receive a Mah Nishtana Award!!

Group Alef Update - January 27:

Tu B'Shvat is in the air and we learned all about it this week.

We talked about another space in our Jewish house - this one was the garden outside!

The children learned about Tu B'Shvat and we talked about all the things that a tree give us and the lessons that we can learn from a tree.

We learned about how a seed turns into a tree... with lots of patience!!  We planted our own seeds in a planter and decorated it with colorful felt.

We then continued onto the topic of Environmentalism by covering a globe with trash!! The children discussed.

We finished off by watching the short movie of THE GIVING TREE.

Coming up next: PURIM!!

Group  Alef Update - January 20:
This week we visited the bathroom in our Jewish home.  Now what can be Jewish about a bathroom, you may ask.  We went up to the Avtzon's house to find out.  For starters there was no Mezuzah on the door and we tried to figure out why. We learned that it was out of respect to the Mezuzah!

We also found an interesting looking cup with a handle near the sink.  We learned that this is a special cup that is used to wash our hands throughout the day.

We wash our hands:

• when we get up in the morning.
• after using the bathroom.
• before eathing bread.

We learned how to wash our hands and how to make the special bracha through a fun game.

The children decorated their own special washing cup to take home.

Group Alef Update - January 13:
The children this week visited the Kids' Bedroom of the Jewish home.  Of course there was a bed, closet, desk, toys and clothing.  But there was also something special... and that was a tzedakah box. 

The children discussed the concept of Tzedakah and why it is important to be thinking of poor people all the time - even if its only by putting a few coins into the Tzedakah box.

We read a cute story about "The Very Best Place for a Penny" and the difficulties of little penny was stuck in all kinds of lonely and wierd places until.. he met up with his friends in the Tzedaka box.

Using puppets, the children acted out the different ways that we can give tzedakah and concluded that the very best way is to give it with a smile.

We hope that you enjoyed the Tzedakah box that the children brought home and that your child has it prominently displayed in her Jewish bedroom.

Thank you to Ilana Ben David who did a wonderful job teaching the children last week.

Group Alef Update - January 6:
This week the children visited the kitchen and some of the special aspects that make it Jewish.  We discussed eating kosher food and took a quick walk to Park 'n Shop in search of food with a kosher signs.  They proudly came back with their chips, candies, etc. bearing O-U and O-K.  We also discussed that although some food does not bear a kosher sign it can still be kosher.

We also discussed the Jewish way of preparing bread - namely by taking off a piece of the dough before baking it. The children practiced this mitzvah and each baked their own challah bread.  They enjoyed a cute story about a girl's experience with a challah dough that didn't stop rising... until she woke up to find out it was only a dream.